AD Ports Group, a prominent global facilitator of trade, logistics, and industry, has joined forces with Premier Marine Engineering Services (Premier Marine), a UAE-based shipyard company specializing in shipbuilding and repair services, to announce the establishment of their new joint venture called SAFEEN Drydocks.
Under the partnership, AD Ports Group will hold a majority ownership stake of 51 percent, while Premier Marine will possess 49 percent of the joint venture. The formation of SAFEEN Drydocks will provide a comprehensive range of essential services, including drydocking, afloat repairs, shipbuilding, and refurbishment.
The operational center of SAFEEN Drydocks will be situated at Khalifa Port, encompassing a vast 45,000 square meter shipyard and repair facility. It will also feature a 350-meter quay wall dedicated to vessel afloat repairs, as well as a floating dry dock for vessel maintenance and refurbishment.
The floating dry dock is expected to commence operations in July 2023, with the shipyard already engaged in constructing two barges for a UAE-based client. Once fully operational, the facility will be managed by SAFEEN Drydocks and equipped to cater to various types of vessels, including tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, offshore vessels, and jack-ups.
By leveraging its esteemed reputation and expertise in maritime logistics, industry, and trade, AD Ports Group will contribute its extensive quay space at Khalifa Port to support the development and operations of the new services hub. On the other hand, Premier Marine will bring its technical knowledge and experience to assist customers in building, repairing, and maintaining vessels and other maritime assets in an environmentally sustainable manner. Together, these entities will not only cater to the needs of SAFEEN Group’s maritime fleet but also serve a wider regional and international client base across the shipping and offshore maritime sectors.
Captain Ammar Mubarak Al Shaiba, Acting CEO Maritime Cluster and SAFEEN Group at AD Ports Group, expressed his excitement about the establishment of SAFEEN Drydocks, emphasizing the significant expansion of their service scope and the ability to serve the regional maritime industry. He expressed his anticipation for a close collaboration with Premier Marine, combining their global reach and Premier Marine’s multi-decade track record to develop a regional and global hub that will serve as a center of excellence for maritime shipbuilding, repair, and maintenance.
Hemant Tandon, Managing Director of Premier Marine Engineering Services, shared his honor in partnering with AD Ports Group during this exciting period to establish a customer-centric marine hub at Khalifa Port. Tandon highlighted the joint venture as a new beginning, and through the collaboration between their highly skilled teams and the expertise provided by AD Ports Group, they aim to achieve great success within the shipbuilding industry.
With the establishment of SAFEEN Drydocks, AD Ports Group and Premier Marine are poised to create a dynamic and efficient maritime hub at Khalifa Port, supporting the growth and development of the shipbuilding and repair industry while catering to the diverse needs of their customers in a sustainable manner.
